What Is a Frangipani Bush?

Form and Foliage

• Frangipanis are typically small trees that grow no more than 30 feet tall. These plants feature thick stems and a rounded or vase-like form with multiple stems or extensive branching near the base of the plant, although they can be pruned beginning when the plant is young so that the specimen has a single trunk. Some varieties are more compact and shorter than others, making them acceptable for hedges. Frangipani leaves are usually glossy green and ovate, but they may be dull green, blunt-tipped or pointed. Leaves measure 2 to 4 inches wide and 8 to 12 inches long and may turn red in the fall. Although the frangipani is a tropical plant, it is often deciduous and loses its leaves in the winter, with new leaves emerging during or following flowering in spring. Plumeria obtusa and its hybrids may retain foliage year-round.

Flowers and Fruits

• The flowers of the frangipani are very showy, usually highly fragrant and make excellent cut flowers. The tubular blooms have five waxy petals arranged like a pinwheel and typically measure 2 to 4 inches across. Frangipanis sometimes produce seed if the flowers are pollinated. Pollinated flowers produce two hard, narrow pods that measure up to 7 inches long and hold up to 60 winged seeds. The pods are generally mature the spring following pollination. When pods split open, the seeds are ready to collect and should be sown within three months.

Site Preferences

• Frangipanis perform best in a site that receives full sunlight or partial shade. This plant can tolerate soils that are slightly acidic or alkaline and will grow acceptably in clay, sand or loam but requires excellent drainage. If drainage in a site is poor, amending the site with organic matter or planting the frangipani in a raised bed can minimize problems with root rot. Once established, frangipani offers a high tolerance for drought and salt spray.

Care Requirements

• Frangipanis require at least 1 inch of water weekly through rainfall or supplemental irrigation. Container specimens may need more water. These plants benefit from the application of a slow-release fertilizer with a 10-30-10 or similar formula every three to four months. Apply fertilizer at a rate of about 1 pound per inch of trunk diameter, broadcasting the fertilizer evenly over the ground under the plant's canopy. Prune to shape the frangipani in the winter when the plant is leafless. Cut off dead, diseased, damaged or borer-infested branches whenever you notice the problem. Frangipanis are very sensitive to cold temperatures and benefit from protection whenever temperatures below about 40 degrees Fahrenheit are anticipated.